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Hazards of Interpretive Software

I’ve been practicing palmistry, astrology, and tarot for over forty years.Recently, as I pondered my outer planetary trials and tribulations for 2018, I examined my three major astrological transits through the lens of the canned interpretations that came bundled with my ‘Solar Fire’ software. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from recognizing and understanding the hazards of canned interpretations is being responsible for my choices and accountable for my actions.

The science and art of palmistry has been carelessly misrepresented and completely misunderstood for over 5,500 years! It’s mind boggling to me that most people still see palmistry as a gypsy fortunetelling scam! Priceless information and precious insight lays buried, silently waiting to be discovered at the ends of our arms. I wonder why the human race hasn’t recognized that hands reveal character and are essential to knowing ourselves and others.

The truth is that palmistry has been relegated to the dark ages until further notice due to a surprising lack of curiosity, important literature, credible schools, teachers, students, certification, counseling skills, public relations, marketing, and spokespeople. Palmistry books are brimming with unreliable recipes, inadequate ingredients, and inaccurate statistics cloaked in esoteric and technical jargon, passed on for millennia. Valuable content is veiled beneath poor illustrations and cluttered with disconnected details.

The paradox is that palmistry is actually a more potent tool for assessing character than astrology, and yet astrology is more credible. The reason is that more credible people have embraced, nurtured, and promoted astrology. “What’s your sun sign?” was a question no one asked until 1968 when Linda Goodman published ‘Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs’. Sun sign columns legitimized, monetized, and popularized astrology.

Astrology has endless permutations and combinations of details. Each and every detail means something, but until you’ve decided on a basic character type and context, the details are superficial. The meaning of any detail can change because of the question asked and the balance of elements, planets, signs, houses, and aspects. Adding outer planets, asteroids, and man-made points to a natal chart can make an accurate reading nearly impossible.

In my metaphysical practice, every detail must be examined within the context of the whole picture and every other detail at the same time. Comparing and contrasting combinations of details is vital for observing, examining, and analyzing behavior. One danger in interpreting isolated details out of context is in substituting one form of predeterminism for another by reducing individuality to cookbook formulas. That’s what most metaphysical authors do. It’s the main reason I don’t make predictions. I believe free-will rules. We can choose what we think and how we feel no matter what happens. Canned readings may be a good place to start, but they’re no substitute for time and experience. Other people’s generalizations should not be taken too literally or seriously.

Herein lays the problem of interpretive software. Having read Solar Fire’s forecasts for my transits, I felt happy to be a seasoned astrologer. Many novices are superstitious and suggestible. Commercial interpretations that use words like “confusion, depression, lethargy, dull, block, painful, stressed, and highly unlikely” can negatively influence an impressionable person to transmute subtle suggestions into self-fulfilling prophecies.

Transiting Jupiter in Scorpio is completing its twelve year cycle and has come home to my first house (opposite Mars in Taurus and trine Mercury in Cancer in the 9th). Jupiter powerfully influences my consciousness. At 70, my quest is for spiritual enlightenment. Nothing is more important than being healthy, whole, centered, peaceful, and loving. I’ve chosen courage, strength, grace, and wisdom as the four pillars of my sanctuary.

Note: I’ve used many different astrological software programs. Solar Fire is my favorite. I love being able to look at astrology graphically. Solar Fire satisfies those needs. I’ve got an older version and realize that the interpretations have probably been updated, but they’re still canned and should be used only as a guide to understanding and not as an official gospel of the symbolism, regardless of the credibility of its author.

I published the Solar Fire interpretation of my transits first, then my version. I’ve italicized words that weren’t helpful to me. Actually, they did raise my consciousness about recognizing, understanding, and responding to gloomy suggestions.My interpretations below have been written as though I know you, but I don’t. Being archetypal and subjective at the same time, each of us can only truly know ourselves. Everyone should create their own cookbooks.

Salvador Dali “Without Hope”

Transiting Saturn Square Radix Neptune (canned)

This is a time of confusion, lethargy and possibly depression. It is as if everything has taken on a dull sheen. If you were a writer you would call it the experience of the writer’s block. Rather than force matters, take some time to contemplate your life in a gentle, reflective light. By the end of the transit you should have a renewed sense of where you are heading, even though right now that seems highly unlikely.

Transiting Saturn Square Radix Neptune (my interpretation)

This is a time for clarifying confusion, dissolving depression, and transmuting lethargy into accomplishment. It’s as if everything is being bathed in bright Neptunian light. Now is the time to observe and examine where and what you’ve been hiding or escaping from (Neptune) and tune into being more whole, centered, and peaceful. By the end of this transit you’ll have clearer vision and a more committed direction in your life because you’ll be more structured, disciplined, focused, and have done the work (Saturn).

Transiting Uranus opposite Radix Chiron (canned)

…later in life you are also likely to be exploring new territories testing your will in the world. You may feel that others are testing your limits, even standing in your path. This could be a painful experience especially as you are determined to push ahead. You need to use your intuition and wisdom to ensure that you are striking the right balance. You need to be true to your inner self, but not so selfish that you walk all over others.

Transiting Uranus opposite Radix Chiron (my interpretation)

This transit will take place a couple of times in your life. Later in life, you’re more aware of where you have healed, still need healing, and have learned how to use your healing abilities. You may suddenly or unexpectedly find yourself in a situation where you need to use those abilities. It’s possible you could face painful early memories or challenges arising from your past. It might be a good idea to seek counseling or a mentor if you do. Perhaps you’ll be a counselor for someone else. The sign and house position of Uranus and Chiron will shed more light on the specific nature of your situation.

Transiting Pluto Opposition Radix Mercury (canned)

You feel that the world is out to stop you communicating your true self and in fact, it is likely that news from external sources is particularly disturbing during this period. Someone else may be forcing their opinions on you or an unexpected crisis may arise stretching your communication skills to the limit. Written negotiations and contracts may not run smoothly as someone puts a cog in the wheels. At times you may feel stressed, irritable and overworked. Relax as much as possible and remember that the time will pass and the reasons behind the mix-ups will become clear.

Transiting Pluto Opposition Radix Mercury (my interpretation)

This is an important time when you must carefully craft your communication skills so that your words and ideas can be most effective. You’ll become more powerful as you wield language more decisively, skillfully, and artfully. When transiting Pluto shows up, power issues also show up. Someone else’s ego trip may be your problem or maybe you fear losing control of someone or something and are acting out. There’s often an obsessive quality to Pluto. You’ll get the best results by choosing good sense, tact, and diplomacy. In Roman myth, Mercury was messenger to the underworld. Depending on the sign and house positions, it’s more or less challenging for Pluto and Mercury to work in harmony. Gemini vs Sagittarius and Scorpio vs Taurus are natural placements.

2 thoughts on “Hazards of Interpretive Software”

An excellent commentary on astrology and some of its occult counterparts. Like you I have MANY years of ‘experience’, and have looked into various paths. I agree palmistry is probably the closest to astrology, and astrologers from India would likely concur. I have had the opportunity to read the works of Cheiro, along with many other books on numerology and tarot (the other two fields I feel are most closely connected). I also agree that ‘canned’ readings (such as those from Solar Fire) can be misleading. Over the decades I have told students to consider an astrology chart like cooking – you have a carrot, a potato, an onion. Each has particular characteristics, but when you ‘cook’ them together they take on some different characteristics and flavors. Would hope you will be attending UAC – am sure we would have some interesting discussions!

Thanks Christine. I like the cooking metaphor. I often use gardening. I look forward to having some interesting discussions with you one day. It won’t be at UAC, unless they ask me to speak, but that’s unlikely as I am out of the educational loop since I stopped teaching for the NYC NCGR many years ago…